Skip to main content

Twitch is trying to install Arch Linux

twitch is trying to install arch linux installs
Playing Pokémon was just a warmup: Twitch users are going to try to install Arch Linux one character at a time in what’s been dubbed a “cooperative text-based horror game.”

Arch Linux, according to its wiki, is “suited to anyone with a do-it-yourself attitude that’s willing to spend some time reading the documentation and solving their own problems.” We’re not sure that sounds like the average Twitch chatroom, but I guess we’ll find out.

The Twitch stream will show a virtual machine, and the chat can vote on which keystroke should come next — every ten seconds a new key will be hit. There will be four goals:

  • Boot Arch Linux from the hard disk
  • Write a python ‘Hello World!’ script
  • Configure a fully working X server
  • Pull up the Twitch screen in the virtual machine

Where did an idea like this even come from? Pokémon.

In March 2014 an anonymous Australian programmer built a unique Twitch stream that allowed the comments to control the gameplay: it was called Twitch Plays Pokémon, and it was a phenomenon. On average 80,000 people were watching it at any given point, with around 10 per cent of people participating in the chaos by saying which button should be pressed next.

Lots of people sincerely wanted to win, and even went so far as to coordinate with wikis full of strategies. This being the Internet, however, lots of other people worked to actively sabotage the game (above you can see a rare Pokémon being released).

A working bash terminal means all sorts of ways to sabotage, like deleting every file on the hard drive or starting a fork bomb. I’m sure “sudo rm -rf /” will show up more than once, regardless of whether that particular command works on Arch or not. There’s a good chance intervention will be needed more than once.

But installing Arch is relatively straightforward, and the voting process here is less chaotic than what was used for the Pokémon effort. So there’s also a chance people could work together and get this done.

If you’re curious, you can start watching, and participating, on Twitch tomorrow.

Editors' Recommendations

Justin Pot
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Justin's always had a passion for trying out new software, asking questions, and explaining things – tech journalism is the…
3 cool things to try out with Apple’s Freeform app for Mac
Here's my finished garden idea board tjhat I made with Apple Freeform

Apple's new Freeform app provides a simple way to organize your thoughts, visualize a project, and communicate your ideas. It's a blank canvas that's easy to fill with pictures, shapes, notes, links, and more.

Here are three cool things I tried to get started with Freeform: easy sharing, effortless organization, and plenty of style options.
Easy sharing with Mac, iPhone, and iPad

Read more
I tried out the game-changing DJI Mini 3, and I’m already hooked
The DJI Mini 3 is shown taking off.

The DJI Mini 3 just launched, and after spending a few days with it, I can tell you it is a game-changing drone.

Costing just under $500, it's priced like its predecessor, the incredibly popular DJI Mini 2, but matches many of the best features of the much more expensive DJI Mini 3 Pro and has even broken its record for flight time.
DJI Mini 3 camera upgrades

Read more
Thanks, I hate it: Someone installed macOS on a Steam Deck
macOS Catalina running on a Steam Deck.

Yesterday we got the news that Apple might bring macOS to the iPad Pro. Today, someone has managed to get macOS to run on a Steam Deck. And tomorrow? I’m betting we’ll see macOS installed on a toaster. You heard it here first.

Back to the Steam Deck. The feat was achieved by enterprising Reddit user Lampa183, who apparently was able to get macOS Catalina running inside a VirtualBox virtual machine on their device. In other words, this is several layers of operating systems and emulation. But the result is worth it … right?

Read more